Author Topic: Suggestion Box for Future Book Discussions ~ (Read 283549 times)

JoanP · « **Reply #560 on:** August 08, 2011, 09:04:17 AM »

VOTE forNovember Bookclub Online Discussion-

The run-off vote is open through September 19

The Run-off survey to decide our November Book Club Online discussion is ready. The first three titles in the heading list the three top-nominated books. After you are sure what each book is about, you are ready to enter the survey. REMEMBER, once in, you must vote in order for your vote to be counted. Ready?

VOTE HERE

Note that book titles are linked to reviews

The Elephant's Journey by José Saramago

Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter

The Optimist's Daughter (Pulitzer Prize) AND The Ponder Heart by Eudora Welty

The Leopard by Guiseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Contact: JoanP

That's great news, Babi - because it means that with a little digging, we will be able to hold a discussion of this little gem of a book.

I'd like to nominate another author for the fall - are there more of you who have never read Eudora Welty? Her name came up in the Novel Bookstore discussion - and then again on the list of 1001 authors to read before you die. I have always intended to read her, but never has. She's written short humorous novellas. We could do two of them - I'm sure they are readily available in libraries - on-line too.

The Optimist's Daughter (Pulitzer Prize) and The Ponder Heart.

kidsal · « **Reply #561 on:** August 08, 2011, 10:27:01 AM »

I have DISH network and caught a glimpse of the film THE HELP on one of the channels. Will try to catch it again as one channel I don't often watch.

JoanR · « **Reply #562 on:** August 08, 2011, 10:31:28 AM »

Eudora Welty: I haven't read her so would certainly go for those 2 books!

I'm reading "The Elephant's Journey" and am loving it, but I think you're probably right in that it might be tricky to discuss due to its format. I wish an editor had put in paragraphs or more spaces or something!

salan · « **Reply #563 on:** August 08, 2011, 02:21:20 PM »

I read The Optimist Daughter some time back. I've also read The Robber Bridegroom by Welty. It's been a while since I read Welty. Wasn't The Ponder Heart a tv production?

My ftf reading group read The Help. We all enjoyed it and it made a good discussion. I don't really care to read and discuss it again; but would probably hover around if it is chosen.

I read Ship of Fools a long, long time ago and would probably re-read it if it is chosen.
Sally

marcie · « **Reply #564 on:** August 09, 2011, 10:21:10 PM »

I looked it up: The Ponder Heart was adapted for PBS Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection in 2001. The original Broadway adaptation of Welty's "The Ponder Heart" by Gail Gilchriest opened at the Music Box Theater in New York on February 16, 1956 and ran for 149 performances. The Gail Gilchriest stage play was the basis for this filmed production.

I didn't see the PBS production. I'd be interested to read the story and any other Welty story.

salan · « **Reply #565 on:** August 10, 2011, 07:43:00 AM »

Have any of you read The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe?? I think it would make a good discussion book.
Sally

JudeS · « **Reply #566 on:** August 11, 2011, 03:55:27 PM »

Can we put The Elephants Journey on the list?.
Perhaps it may encourage others to read it even if it is not chosen for a group discussion.

I've read The Help and discussed it with my f2f book group. Though it is a fine book can't see discussing it again.

"Shop of Fools" , an old, old movie. Vaguely remember it. Haven't read the book.

JoanP · « **Reply #567 on:** August 11, 2011, 04:02:35 PM »

Jude, it's up there - #3 on the list - look at first post up on the top of the page...

Has anyone read the Butterfly's Daughter that Sally meniotned? The title has my curiosity up ...

Babi · « **Reply #568 on:** August 14, 2011, 08:47:03 AM »

From what JOANR says, it sounds as though a discussion of "Elephant's Journey"
could be a problem. You read it first, JUDE. Can you see how it might be broken
up for discussion? I can't comment yet; still waiting for the book.
I don't really recall reading any of these except, or course, The Help.

JoanP · « **Reply #569 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:46:43 AM »

Babi - I'm reading it now - and don't see a problem for a dscussion of Elephant's Journey!

JoanR · « **Reply #570 on:** August 14, 2011, 11:56:16 AM »

I no longer see a problem now that I've discovered that there are indeed chapter divisions! I spoke too soon! The book is enchanting and would not be tricky to discuss at all!!

PatH · « **Reply #571 on:** August 14, 2011, 06:19:13 PM »

Oh, good, JoanR, I was thinking it sounded like something I would like.

bellamarie · « **Reply #572 on:** August 14, 2011, 09:43:53 PM »

Finished reading "The Help" and went to see the movie. I can see this book a very interesting discussion. I see best actress award nomination for the lady who played Minny and the movie being nominated best picture. And just to let you know...the movie was hilarious along with still getting the perspective of the issues "the help" dealt with. Many laughs and many tears!

Babi · « **Reply #573 on:** August 15, 2011, 08:25:53 AM »

Glad to hear a good report from the two JOAN's on 'The Elephant's Journey'.
I'm eagerly waiting for the book to return the county branch library so my
daughter can grab it for me.

JudeS · « **Reply #574 on:** August 16, 2011, 01:18:57 AM »

I think one of the most interesting things to discussin the Elephant's Journey would be 16th century Portugal when the action takes place. The Reformation was going on yet there were strong vestiges of the "old way"of thinking.
The fact that an elephant and a mahout from India could be brought to Portugal on a Royal whim is amazing. The difference in knowledge between the peasants and the Royals was so, so vast.
What a world it was-new discoveries, new countries, new animals, the church in a decline so soon after the Inquisition..

Much to wonder and ponder in this book.

JoanK · « **Reply #575 on:** August 25, 2011, 03:19:55 PM »

Last day to vote on which classic to read next.

VOTE HERE http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=2395.80

salan · « **Reply #576 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:30:45 PM »

Do we have a title for Sept.?
Sally

JoanP · « **Reply #577 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:35:25 PM »

Yes, Sally - September's Book Club Online will be a nonfiction - Berlin 61. It's really interesting - if you stop in to the prediscussion. Amazing what was going on back then that we didn't even know about!

On Sept 1 we will start to vote for the November Book Club Online suggestion. (October's Book club Online selection will be the title selected for the Classics discussion.)
We're still open for titles for November...

JoanP · « **Reply #578 on:** August 31, 2011, 12:42:01 PM »

Last day for nominations for November discussion - see the heading for the slate. Remember, each title is a link to a review of the title!

Babi · « **Reply #579 on:** September 01, 2011, 08:42:39 AM »

I read somewhere just the other day that Jose Saramago had died. Does anyone know if
it's the Saramago of "Elephant's Journey" that passed?

JoanP · « **Reply #580 on:** September 01, 2011, 09:48:32 AM »

Babi - I found this -

Jose Saramago died on June 18, 2010; The Elephant's Journey was published posthumously.

JoanP · « **Reply #581 on:** September 01, 2011, 10:44:31 AM »

The Survey to decide our November Book Club Online discussion is ready. The titles in the heading describe the nominated books. After you are sure what each book is about, you are ready to enter the survey. REMEMBER, once in, you must vote in order for your vote to be counted. Only one title to be selected this time. Ready?

VOTE HERE

JoanP · « **Reply #582 on:** September 02, 2011, 07:30:04 PM »

It looks as if this is going to be a busy poll - you're voting - BUT right now there is a two-way tie. Can you believe it!

dbroomsc · « **Reply #583 on:** September 03, 2011, 05:58:00 AM »

I have been anxious to read something by Mary Alice Monroe. Butterfly's Daughter seems like a good choice.

JoanP · « **Reply #584 on:** September 03, 2011, 09:57:19 AM »

Sounds as though you've decided where your vote will go, Dean69 - have you voted? The poll is in the heading here...

Frybabe · « **Reply #585 on:** September 03, 2011, 11:08:29 AM »

Me too, Dean69. I've not read any of her books yet.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #586 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:55:51 AM »

Kidsal, you are only seeing a "trailer" or clip of "The Help" on TV. It will be months before it actually gets released to television, since it just came out at the movies late August.

JoanP · « **Reply #587 on:** September 09, 2011, 10:22:42 PM »

just so you know - we're preparing for a run-off vote for November's Book Club Online discussion. We've got a doozy of a tie right now.

Since we're a little short-handed this weekend, we'll leave the first vote open through the weekend. Who knows, maybe we'll have enough late comers to the vote to break the tie - in which case we won't need that run-off vote after all!

Babi · « **Reply #588 on:** September 10, 2011, 09:03:32 AM »

Go for it, JOAN.

MaryH · « **Reply #589 on:** September 10, 2011, 04:30:34 PM »

Does anyone know which books are tied? Somehow I missed that.

JoanP · « **Reply #590 on:** September 10, 2011, 05:51:47 PM »

We're almost ready with the second vote -

The tied votes -

Ship of Fools

The two Eudora Welty novellas

The Elephant's Journey.

Are you ready to vote, Mary?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #591 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:22:50 PM »

Well my word - I would never have guessed those from the above list...

Gumtree · « **Reply #592 on:** September 11, 2011, 03:30:25 AM »

Nor would I.

MaryH · « **Reply #593 on:** September 11, 2011, 09:45:47 PM »

Thanks JoanP! My first choice isn't in the list so I will need to look at the reviews again.

marcie · « **Reply #594 on:** September 11, 2011, 11:08:56 PM »

The run-off vote is now open here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/526QL5B

Vote for your first TWO choices among the following books:

THE ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY by José Saramagp: In 1551, King João III of Portugal gave Archduke Maximilian an unusual wedding present: an elephant named Solomon. The elephant’s journey from Lisbon to Vienna was witnessed and remarked upon by scholars, historians, and ordinary people. Out of this material, José Saramago has spun this whimsical yet compulsively readable tale - “a triumph of language, imagination, and humor"

SHIP OF FOOLS - by Katherine Anne Porter: The story takes place in the summer of 1931, on board a cruise ship bound for Germany. Passengers include a Spanish noblewoman, a drunken German lawyer, an American divorcee, a pair of Mexican Catholic priests. The novel explores themes of nationalism, cultural and ethnic pride, and basic human frailty that are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published in 1962.

Two Novella's by Eudora Welty: - The OPTIMIST'S DAUGHTER: This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is a story of a southern girl who goes back to her home in New Orleans due to the death of her father and proves completely unable to cope with his passing. She comes to realize that she will not find peace until she deals with her own past and what it means for her father to be gone. - THE PONDER HEART –another, short novel written by Southern writer, Eudora Welty–is the story of the eccentric and eternally child-like Daniel Ponder, narrated by his niece, Edna Earle Ponder - with irony and humor.

Babi · « **Reply #595 on:** September 12, 2011, 08:41:08 AM »

I have been reading "Elephant's Journey" in between two other books. I know many of you
loved it, but I am finding the story so far almost childish. And I'm sure the author must have
known about things like capitals and punctuation, so I can't see a reasonable explanation for
not using them. It comes across to me as a rather pretentious gimmick.
Sorry. Hope I haven't upset anyone. I will read some more of it; maybe it will 'click' into
place for me.

JoanP · « **Reply #596 on:** September 12, 2011, 11:27:28 AM »

An interesting thought, Babi. Why did Saramago choose to go without caps? I used to wonder about the poet e.e. cummings too.

I'm reading Elephant's Journey too - plan to take it on trip. I'm not finding it childish - but you got me to thinking that maybe because the story is told from Solomon the elephant's eyes, he has never been taught the rules of punctuaion?

JudeS · « **Reply #597 on:** September 12, 2011, 07:17:59 PM »

I thought the story was told mostly through the eyes of the mahout.
Does the Indian written language have capitals?

Gumtree · « **Reply #598 on:** September 13, 2011, 04:23:51 AM »

Quote

maybe because the story is told from Solomon the elephant's eyes, he has never been taught the rules of punctuaion

JoanP: Love it - haven't started the book yet but if Solomon, the Elephant has been taught the rules of grammar, orthography and composition you'd think he'd have picked up a little punctuation along the way

Babi · « **Reply #599 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:01:10 AM »

I always thought Cummings was whimsical, JOANP, so the lower case poems were, to me,
just more of the same. Perhaps childish was a poor choice of words, but I did find the book
simplistic. Perhaps I was just missing all the deep wisdom.

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Author Topic: Suggestion Box for Future Book Discussions ~ (Read 283549 times)